Hello from FSU Sociology!

Our faculty and students are committed to rigorously studying and teaching about the social institutions and inequalities that define our times. We also are strongly committed to sharing sociology with non-academic audiences and providing the public with unique insights that can improve policy responses and inform collective action.

As part of our mission, we take very seriously our role in educating the next generation of scholars and community leaders. We are extremely proud of the students that have gone through our program, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and continually seek to improve upon the opportunities and experiences that we can offer to them while they are here.

To that end, we are asking you – alumni and friends of FSU Sociology – for your help in raising funds to support our graduate student recruitment efforts and to enhance our ability to offer supplemental learning experiences for our students at all levels.

The proceeds from this fundraising campaign will be used to support two primary purposes:

1. Graduate Student Recruitment:

Excellent graduate students are crucial to the department and the university. They are the next generation of scholars and practitioners, bringing new ideas and energy to FSU and the discipline of sociology. When they graduate, they will carry the name and reputation of FSU with them as they make their own marks in the world. While here, they help perform important work for and with faculty and serve as instructors to a large number of our undergraduates.

We need to make sure that we continue to attract the very best graduate students to our program. But, the competition is growing ever higher. Top candidates are heavily desired by many programs around the country. Over the years, we have learned that bringing these top candidates to campus for a program of events that introduces them to the department is key to successful recruitment. Once students come to visit us, the vast majority of them want to sign on to stay!

Today we are seeking your help to continue making this recruitment event a success. Please help us to provide financial support to candidates who would like to travel to Tallahassee for this program in the Spring. Your funds will be used to offset some of the costs of travel for out-of-town candidates and to pay for networking activities, such as group meals and receptions.

2. Supplemental Experiences for All Students:

We strive to offer supplemental learning and networking experiences for all of our students, graduate and undergraduate. Please help us to be able to do this through funding for activities like travel to professional conferences, student-driven research projects, methodological and career-skills workshops, annual awards for student research and teaching, events with nationally-recognized speakers, and periodic departmental and student-centered networking events. These activities enrich the learning environment, help forge important professional ties with faculty and peers, and create a sense of community and engagement among our students. Ultimately, these are the types of activities that make FSU Sociology such an exciting place to be and help our students to move into outstanding careers!